Article by the Minister of Health, Mr. Thanos Plevris

All the efforts made to introduce the family doctor have basically failed because it has never actually been implemented. The failed changes of the SYRIZA government worsened the situation as only 800 of the 2,000 doctors contracted with EOPYY remained. We believe that this reform will succeed because it is based on two main pillars: the first one is that the citizen receives a free health advisor of his choice to guide him in all his health issues. Therefore, it is of great benefit for the citizen to seek a personal physician. The second pillar is that the institution will be embraced by the entire medical community.

We don’t want a doctor for prescribing only. At the moment, in fact, the doctors contracted by the NHIF largely serve the prescribing population.

The personal physician is the one who will guide the citizen in health matters, he is the health advisor to whom he can turn and consult. He will monitor his health record, inform him about the tests he should have, the lifestyle he should follow according to his medical profile, advise him on the specialists he should see and refer him to public secondary care facilities when necessary. So the patient is not alone and the state ensures that every citizen has a doctor.

There is no charge for citizens and it will be completely free of charge.

The choice is free and for the chronically ill may include medical specialists. No one is excluded from being a personal physician. It can be the doctor of the Health Centre receiving a financial incentive if he or she chooses to do so, the doctor contracted with the EOPYY specialising in general practitioner, family doctor and pathologist, but also the specialist doctor for patients with chronic diseases related to his or her speciality. At the same time, the private doctor who does not want to contract with EOPYY is not excluded.

For home-based cases it will be for a specific population that justifies not moving.

The money doctors receive will be based on the service they provide. And what we are saying is that it will be paid per person and the doctor will be able to have an annual income of 60 thousand euros.

Because when you pay someone that kind of money you can ask for the full free care that we want to ensure for the insured person.

Along with the personal doctor, the upgrading of all public health care facilities is planned with 250 million euros. EUR 250 million secured from the Recovery Fund, an amount of more than EUR 250 million. euros for preventive examinations and explicit cooperation between public health care facilities and private and local authorities, with the institutionalisation of home care for patients in need.

The new PHC is citizen-centred. Personal Doctor for All primarily benefits our vulnerable citizens who currently pay a lot of money for health care. Putting the citizen at the centre and ensuring a Doctor for All lays the foundations to ensure Health for All.